F. OdhiamboNo rest for Oketch, Bundi after CAF Champions League outing
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Reading Time: 3min | Fri. 08.09.23. | 09:40
Starlets will report to camp on Sunday 10th
There will be very little rest for Vihiga Queens FC centre-back Phoebe Oketch and forward Moraa Bundi.
Fresh off participating in the CAF Women’s Champions League Qualifiers (CECAFA Region), the duo have been summoned by Harambee Starlets coach Beldine Odemba for national duty.
Starlets are set to play Cameroun in a two legged affair on the 22nd and 26th this month, a double-header whose stakes are qualification for the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).
Oketch is taking enough rest before and believes she will be ready by the time they hit camp.
‘’We just recently played some top teams in the Eastern African region and despite exiting the tournament early, they were some proper opposition. The Women’s Premier League is also almost here so I have to take enough rest before action resumes,’’ says the no-nonsense defender.
Champions of the tournament on home soil in 2021, Queens played a total of five matches in the competition held in Uganda starting off with a 3-1 win over Zanzibari side New Generation.
AS Kigali would take a 1-0 loss at the hands of the Kenyan champions and what was left was a final group game to determine first position in the group.
Queens, however, failed to reign supreme and Tanzanians JKT Queens ran away with first position after a 1-0 win.
Oketch cites hard luck at this point. JKT had barely managed to beat them.
‘’We knew it was going to be a close game and indeed it was. Anyone could have won it. We had our chances and they had theirs. It just wants our day,’’ she recalls.
CBE, who Queens had dispatched two years ago to lift the title, had topped the other group and all was set for a re-match.
The Ethiopians narrowly edged Vihiga Queens 2-1 to send the Kenyan champions out of contention for the trophy.
A third place play-off clash against Buja Queens from Burundi would also end in a 1-0 loss as Queens ended their campaign in 4th place.
There’s plenty of lessons to draw from all these Oketch says.
‘’Football changes everyday. We met familiar faces and given they knew what to expect from us, it was obvious they were not going to lie down and let us walk over them. Many of the teams in the region have improved a lot and that’s positive regarding women’s football. We will try again next time,’’ she adds.
Oketch is a national team regular, especially having switched from attacking into defensive roles. She’s full of hope ahead of the Cameroun fixtures.
‘’I think as a national team we have proved ourselves before and even this time I’m confident we can pull some good results,’’ she concludes.
Coach Odemba summoned 30 players for her provisional squad, one that comprises both local based players and internationals.
Joining the squad for the very first time are Bunyore starlets’ forward Airin Madalina, Lavender Atieno and Caroline Rufa who guards the post for Simba Queens.
The team will report to camp on Sunday 10th.
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